The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-01-20

chosen it for himself. He seemed
strangely calm and bright as he taxed
of that passage. .,
Reporter? Why did you pray with
him Just before he left the cell for ING |
scafold? |
DIR. Hatcher: Because he sent INTO
the hall for me and asked me to do IT,
We had already prayed together twice
before within an hour. He aiwyaS i
seemed anxious for me to pray LOT
him when | went to see him, and ne
told me, in our last interview, that my
visits had brought measure OF comfort
and iov to him which he knew not
how to express. | did nothing, OF
course, but what any minister CT Christ
would gladly have done for him. Out
his tender and affectionate bearing
and especially his simple and unteIgn-
ed gratitude, would have amply COM
pensated me even if | had done Tar
more.
ON THE SCAFFOLD.
Reporter Will you be kind enough
to reproduce the prayer that you OIL
fered on the scaffold?
DIR. Hatcher: | beg to be excused.
II was a brief and unprecedented
PRAYER, such as the sad occasion sug-
: gested, and | could not possibly repro
duce it. | do not use written prayers.
Reporter: Did he request you to
make the statement that you made Tor
him on the scaffold before you reached
the scahold?
DR.. Hatcher: He did not. l am
sure that it was unprecedented, as ne
told me a few minutes before that he
would have nothing to say.
. Reporter: What was the exact state
ment?
S DIR. Hatcher: 1t was this: "Please
, saw for me, Doctor, that | come to my
E death without one hard feeling IN my
e heart toward any one in the world. .
| simply repeated as nearly as couio
S what he said.
Reporter: When you took leave o.
0 him he said something to you winch
p the reporters could not catch. do you
e object to revealing it?
n DIR. Hatcher: Not at all. AS l TOOK
e him by the hand he said in low but
s distinct voice: "Good-bye, Doctor;
IS am very much obliged to you. Please
|, trv TO comfort them at home, and give
y them nv love-" That ended the mat
r ter with me, and Sergeant Smith wa
Ie kind enough to furnish me an escor
1t and enable me to leave the place be
n fore the last sad act.
lie And now will you not excuse mef
re "Now, WAS HE GUILTY?"
J. Reporter: Thank you, Doctor; bu
~ may ! not ask you if, after all, you d
,e &c not think he was guilty man?
~ DR.. Hatcher: That | have neve
~ said, and surely at this time it woul
~ be strange for me to commit myself
~ that view. l have no wish to add t
% the frenzied excitement which now III
~ ~ so many hearts. The poor young ma
~ ~ is dead and beyond the reach of huma
~ ~ sympathy. My opinion is of | tt
~ worth, but l knew him as no oth'
!. man did during his prison life, an
ny while do not wish to discuss the ma
'"' ter. must be candid enough to Sc
that | am far from being convince
that he merited the shameful death
which he has come.
OF GOVERNOR LEE.
~ Reporter: Just one more questlo
90. Have you anything to say as to Go
e eoi ernor Lees dealing with the case?
"a. DIR. Hatcher: Perhaps | ought
~ say nothing. The Governor needs
81 commentator from my lips. But 1
i sense of justice prompts me to test
-. to the courtesy, patience, and hdel
ii"' which have marked his course In tt
ee matter. Surely l, at least, have
complaint to utter as to his ever-co
~ ~, siderate and kindly bearing toward n
'olI and his sincere desire and ample
VI portunity to prepare for fate VIII
wv wv he felt that his official obligations wo'
wv not allow him to avert.
s Reporter: Accept my thanks, ID
tor, for your frankness and patlen
Your course in the matter has been a
on will be justified and approved by
right thinking men, and you have
and their sympathy in the painful and
to icate duties growing out OF your II
,eep ton to the prisoner.